Bengaluru: It seems trouble is mounting for senior Congress leaders from all corners. The latest is former minister and senior Congressman K.J. George.
A complaint had been submitted to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against George in connection with amassing wealth in United States in his daughter’s name.
Ravikrishna Reddy, the president of Karnataka Rastriya Samithi (KRS) party had lodged a complaint on Friday with Joint Director, Bengaluru Zone office of the ED in the city.
In his complaint Reddy has levelled serious charges of corruption and money laundering against George, who is MLA of Sarvagnanagar constituency. “George who held very high positions in the government of Karnataka as minister since early 90’s has amassed huge properties in India and abroad, particularly in the US,” he stated.
Ravikrishna Reddy had given a list of five properties located in Manhattan. He had also claimed that there are other properties in the New York City also. He claimed that most of the properties are in the name of George’s daughter Renita Abraham and son-in-law Kevin Abraham.
“In the annual statement of assets submitted before the Karnataka Lokayukta in the year 2014, George has stated that the income of both his children was nil. However, his daughter has huge properties worth millions of dollars in New York,” Reddy stated.
“George’s daughter and son-in-law reside in New York. They have purchased properties worth millions of dollars. As per our information, both their income is insufficient to acquire these properties, that too in Manhattan area of New York, which is one of the costliest real estates in the world,” Reddy pointed out.
He further claimed that one property in Manhattan is directly in the joint name of George, his wife Suja George @ Sujatha George and his brother K.J. Kuruvilla.
Before the Lokayukta in the year 2014 & 15 George had made a mention of this property along with another property in Australia. It had been given in the statements of assets. However, this information was hidden in the Election affidavit to the Karnataka assembly in 2013 and 2018, Reddy added.
The transactions seem to have started way back in 2005 or earlier. A web of companies, circuitous transactions and various illegal methods might have been used to launder wealth acquired by corrupt means in India and abroad. The companies were closed immediately after transactions, the complaint mentioned.
Reddy suspected that the money has been routed through Singapore. He demanded that, the investments in a steel company located in Koppal district needs to be investigated. He had also insisted to conduct investigations in the name of his son Rana George.
The complaint concluded by appealing to conduct an investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PML). The complaint also stressed to take up the issue with authorities in US.
